Johnny’s Soliloquy.It seems to be father’s greatest joyTo tell what he did when he was a boy.Nothing very wonderful, so far’s I can see;And it seems pretty rough on a fellow like me,When I’ve worked like a man all the long summer day—And boys can get tired, I don’t care what they say—To have father declare, in his evening chat,“When I was a boy I did better than that.“I was bound out when I was a boy,Had never a play-day, a book, or a toy.I earned my first suit when I was of age,By working at odd hours for old Deacon Gage;I often went barefoot, having seldom a hat,And as for a coat, I was too poor for that.Of course I had extra clothes for cold weather,But the clothes were not broadcloth, nor the boots patent leather.”Then he talks of this and that wonderful feat,With little to wear and little to eat;How he never went either to church or to school,Just picked up his learning without guide or rule.And says: “John, to be sure, is easy to learn,And always stands first at the close of the term.But if I’d his chance at books in my day,I don’t think you’d have found me always at play.”Now I am just as willing as can be to work,Nobody can call me a bit of a shirk;I don’t ask for fine clothes or frequent play-days,For I know father’s money has plenty of ways:But when I’ve done as well as I can,They might treat me as though I’d some day be a man.I’m so tired of the song father always has sung:“I did better than that when I was young.”
It seems to be father’s greatest joyTo tell what he did when he was a boy.Nothing very wonderful, so far’s I can see;And it seems pretty rough on a fellow like me,When I’ve worked like a man all the long summer day—And boys can get tired, I don’t care what they say—To have father declare, in his evening chat,“When I was a boy I did better than that.“I was bound out when I was a boy,Had never a play-day, a book, or a toy.I earned my first suit when I was of age,By working at odd hours for old Deacon Gage;I often went barefoot, having seldom a hat,And as for a coat, I was too poor for that.Of course I had extra clothes for cold weather,But the clothes were not broadcloth, nor the boots patent leather.”Then he talks of this and that wonderful feat,With little to wear and little to eat;How he never went either to church or to school,Just picked up his learning without guide or rule.And says: “John, to be sure, is easy to learn,And always stands first at the close of the term.But if I’d his chance at books in my day,I don’t think you’d have found me always at play.”Now I am just as willing as can be to work,Nobody can call me a bit of a shirk;I don’t ask for fine clothes or frequent play-days,For I know father’s money has plenty of ways:But when I’ve done as well as I can,They might treat me as though I’d some day be a man.I’m so tired of the song father always has sung:“I did better than that when I was young.”
It seems to be father’s greatest joyTo tell what he did when he was a boy.Nothing very wonderful, so far’s I can see;And it seems pretty rough on a fellow like me,When I’ve worked like a man all the long summer day—And boys can get tired, I don’t care what they say—To have father declare, in his evening chat,“When I was a boy I did better than that.“I was bound out when I was a boy,Had never a play-day, a book, or a toy.I earned my first suit when I was of age,By working at odd hours for old Deacon Gage;I often went barefoot, having seldom a hat,And as for a coat, I was too poor for that.Of course I had extra clothes for cold weather,But the clothes were not broadcloth, nor the boots patent leather.”Then he talks of this and that wonderful feat,With little to wear and little to eat;How he never went either to church or to school,Just picked up his learning without guide or rule.And says: “John, to be sure, is easy to learn,And always stands first at the close of the term.But if I’d his chance at books in my day,I don’t think you’d have found me always at play.”Now I am just as willing as can be to work,Nobody can call me a bit of a shirk;I don’t ask for fine clothes or frequent play-days,For I know father’s money has plenty of ways:But when I’ve done as well as I can,They might treat me as though I’d some day be a man.I’m so tired of the song father always has sung:“I did better than that when I was young.”
It seems to be father’s greatest joy
To tell what he did when he was a boy.
Nothing very wonderful, so far’s I can see;
And it seems pretty rough on a fellow like me,
When I’ve worked like a man all the long summer day—
And boys can get tired, I don’t care what they say—
To have father declare, in his evening chat,
“When I was a boy I did better than that.
“I was bound out when I was a boy,Had never a play-day, a book, or a toy.I earned my first suit when I was of age,By working at odd hours for old Deacon Gage;I often went barefoot, having seldom a hat,And as for a coat, I was too poor for that.Of course I had extra clothes for cold weather,But the clothes were not broadcloth, nor the boots patent leather.”
“I was bound out when I was a boy,
Had never a play-day, a book, or a toy.
I earned my first suit when I was of age,
By working at odd hours for old Deacon Gage;
I often went barefoot, having seldom a hat,
And as for a coat, I was too poor for that.
Of course I had extra clothes for cold weather,
But the clothes were not broadcloth, nor the boots patent leather.”
Then he talks of this and that wonderful feat,With little to wear and little to eat;How he never went either to church or to school,Just picked up his learning without guide or rule.And says: “John, to be sure, is easy to learn,And always stands first at the close of the term.But if I’d his chance at books in my day,I don’t think you’d have found me always at play.”
Then he talks of this and that wonderful feat,
With little to wear and little to eat;
How he never went either to church or to school,
Just picked up his learning without guide or rule.
And says: “John, to be sure, is easy to learn,
And always stands first at the close of the term.
But if I’d his chance at books in my day,
I don’t think you’d have found me always at play.”
Now I am just as willing as can be to work,Nobody can call me a bit of a shirk;I don’t ask for fine clothes or frequent play-days,For I know father’s money has plenty of ways:But when I’ve done as well as I can,They might treat me as though I’d some day be a man.I’m so tired of the song father always has sung:“I did better than that when I was young.”
Now I am just as willing as can be to work,
Nobody can call me a bit of a shirk;
I don’t ask for fine clothes or frequent play-days,
For I know father’s money has plenty of ways:
But when I’ve done as well as I can,
They might treat me as though I’d some day be a man.
I’m so tired of the song father always has sung:
“I did better than that when I was young.”